Athletic trainer sports medicine program

Athletic Training/Sports Medicine

Get an affordable start to a career with an associate degree in athletic training/sports medicine from SMC.

Athletic trainers specialize in health care and wellness, preventing, diagnosing, and treating muscle and bone injuries and illnesses in athletes. They work with coaches, doctors, and physical therapists in a variety of settings.

About the Athletic Training/Sports Medicine Degree

Athletic trainers/sports medicine professionals work to keep athletes functioning at their peak performance, helping prevent and treat injuries that may occur during training, practice, or competition. They collaborate daily with physicians and other health professionals as part of a team in a variety of work environments, such as colleges and universities, K-12 schools, hospitals, fitness centers, sports medicine clinics, and for professional sports teams. They may even assist corporations with ergonomics or preventing workplace injuries. Because of the nature of their work, athletic trainers who work with sports teams travel often and frequently work evenings and weekends.

To become an athletic trainer, you will need at least a bachelor's degree. However, this is a competitive field, and more than 70% of current athletic trainers hold a master's degree.

SMC provides a great way for you to begin your journey at a much lower cost, while gaining valuable practical experience. As an athletic training/sports medicine student, you’ll study human anatomy and physiology, kinesiology, nutrition, and medical terminology. You'll also learn how to develop healthy lifestyles for your athletes. Finally, you’ll apply your skills through hands-on clinical training.

The Associate in Arts in Athletic Training/Sports Medicine is designed to transfer to four-year institutions toward a bachelor’s degree.

What You’ll Learn

What Can I Do With An Athletic Training/Sports Medicine Degree?

SMC graduates are well equipped to continue their studies, transferring to pursue a bachelor’s degree or master's. Nearly all states also require athletic trainers to hold a license or certification. These requirements vary by state.

Athletic training/sports medicine is a dynamic field, with much faster than average projected growth through 2031.

Careers and Salaries

Career Option Salary

Athletic Trainer $57,930

2023 median pay. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

Careers and Salaries
Career Option	Salary
Athletic Trainer	$57,930

Transfer Anywhere

SMC is a high-transfer institution, meaning that many of our students successfully transfer to four-year schools. Credits transfer readily to most schools, and graduates have gone on to top universities, including the University of Michigan, Michigan State University, and more.

SMC is part of the Michigan Transfer Agreement, an agreement between community colleges and participating universities that improves the transfer of a core block of classes.

Learn more about transferring here.

Facilities

The Nursing and Health Education Building reopened in 2019 following a $9.6 million renovation. It is equipped with state-of-the-art skill and simulation labs to train students for real-world scenarios.

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